Creativity,
passion and the urge for expression and exploration are essential
human qualities that inspire science, the arts, and the humanities,
and thus constitute a common bond among them. WISL helps people
explore, discuss, and cultivate the intellectual and emotional
links between science, the arts, and the humanities. People
can value, appreciate, and enjoy science without a deep understanding
of specific details, just as they can appreciate music without
a specialized knowledge of music theory, or appreciate literature,
the theater, and the visual arts without being experts in those
fields. Programs of the Initiative focus on the relationships,
similarities, and differences in inquiry, creativity, and personal
expression among scientists, artists, and humanists. A specific
goal is to give musicians, artists, writers, and performers
– present and future – an appreciation of science and enable
them to see and understand the connections between science and
the arts.

Is the Scientific Method a Myth?Does the scientific method include non-trivial principles of reasoning that apply across vastly different subject matters, or is the real work in science done by methods that are highly specific to the subject matter at hand?

Leo-Leo Galileo by Bela Sandor

Two acts in 90 minutes

December 18, 2017
7 PM
UW Lowell Center, 610 Langdon Street

An historical drama that has relevance in our time. Presented by Playwrights Ink of Madison, in cooperation with the UW-Madison Retirement Association, the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, and the Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy.

The main themes are the intense rivalry of two powerful Cardinals for the Papacy, and their compelling need to control the politically toxic Galileo, a person they otherwise appreciate and admire. Galileo is subtly siding with both Cardinals, but the best he can get for himself is permanent house arrest, a virtual burial alive. The play is relevant in our world, where widespread anti-science beliefs cause societal conflict, regressive governmental actions are common, and freedom of expression is not assured.